0:13Skip to 0 minutes and 13 secondsKARL BLANCHET: Welcome to Week 1, where we will introduce some of the common thinking and discussions around the health needs of populations affected by humanitarian crises. Our first activity will explore some of the key characteristics of humanitarian crises, including the ways in which we might categorise them, some of the terminology and definitions you'll see used throughout the course, and their direct and indirect impacts on society. We will then begin to focus on health in crisis settings, highlighting the effect on individuals, populations, health care systems, and our ability to respond to these problems. Finally, we will consider the challenges of providing health care during a humanitarian crisis, discussing issues such as financing, safety of staff, and the logistics of delivering aid.

Welcome to Week 1

Welcome to Week 1. We are eager to begin and hope you are too!

This week we will focus on health needs in humanitarian crises. One of the biggest obstacles to providing effective healthcare in humanitarian settings is that different crises occur in diverse populations and disparate locations. Combined, the wide range of unknowns can be a distinct challenge for healthcare professionals working in a crisis situation.

What will we learn?

In our Week 1 activities we will:

Discuss the different types of humanitarian crises, including conflicts, natural disasters and disease outbreaks

Highlight the effect of crises on population health and the resilience of healthcare systems

Provide insights into funding priorities during humanitarian crises and how policy agendas influence this

Reflect upon the challenges of humanitarian interventions, including logistics and the safety and security of patients and field staff.